"An Asian truck driver came to Iraq to work as a contractor in order to make money. However, during a job, he encountered a terrorist attack and passed out. When he woke up, he found that he was buried alive in a coffin. Buried somewhere in the desert..." Zhang Yuanjun slowly told the story of "Buried Alive" to Rodrigo Cortez.
Rodrigo Cortez is a short film director. Directors who have a background in short films have a very distinctive characteristic - they are good at controlling costs.
Simply put, they can do big things with little money.
Rodrigo Cortez was quickly attracted by this story and exclaimed: "Zhang, this story is so exciting. Give me 3 million, no, 2 million, and I will definitely be able to film it."
Zhang Yuanjun said: "I just have a rough story and want to make it into a 90-minute feature film. I need to rewrite the script."
"I know many excellent screenwriters, and they will definitely be interested in your story. Zhang, I must shoot this story." Rodrigo realized that this might be the closest he has come to a theatrical feature film in his seven years in the industry. Opportunity.
He must grasp it.
But Zhang Yuanjun was not so easily persuaded, and instead stated his conditions: "I can leave this story to you for the time being, but I have to write the script myself. At least a month, and at most 50 days, I will come up with a script for you. , if you can’t take the picture at that time, I will change someone at any time.”
"Deal!" Rodrigo accepted Zhang Yuanjun's challenge without any hesitation.
After sending Rodrigo away, Zhang Yuanjun was finally clean.
Xiao Zhao was present throughout the whole process and could not understand.
"Okay, let's find someone to register a studio in Hollywood so that we can work here in the future."
"Huh?" Xiao Zhao didn't understand.
Zhang Yuanjun had no intention of hiding it from her: "I just talked about a movie with that foreign devil."
“We’re making a Hollywood movie?!”
"If he can do what I say, then shoot."
"Really!" Xiao Zhao was so happy, "Really, really, really?!"
"Is an investment of one or two million worth being so happy?"
"Why isn't it worth it? There are so many people in China who are trying to come to Hollywood to make a movie but they can't make it. Let's come here for a vacation and we can negotiate a Hollywood movie. If you tell me, I will envy them! No, I will contact our studio immediately and give you You spread the word."
"Don't rush it yet." Zhang Yuanjun stopped him, "The script is not ready yet. We will wait until it is finished. Now the eight characters are only drawn, so it is not good for publicity. Also, don't tell Yifei about this. You tell her everything I do, whether I am your boss or she is your boss."
"We are all friends, now you know what to be afraid of." Xiao Zhao said softly.
Zhang Yuanjun added: "Isn't Yifei going back to New York today? Come on, let's see her off."
The film festival has come to an end, and Liu Yifei has had enough fun in Los Angeles and sets off back to New York.
On the way to the airport, Liu Xiaoli took the initiative and said: "Xiao Zhang, you must come to Sissi's 18th coming-of-age ceremony in a few days."
"Where to do it?" Zhang Yuanjun asked knowingly.
Liu Xiaoli smiled and said: "It's in the capital, the State Guesthouse."
"Awesome." Zhang Yuanjun praised.
Liu Xiaoli was a little unhappy after hearing this: "I originally said that I would just find a higher-end hotel to have some fun, but I didn't expect that they arranged it at the State Guesthouse, which is too high-profile and extravagant."
In order to make the mother and daughter happy, Zhang Yuanjun just said: "The coming-of-age ceremony should be high-profile. It's only this time in your life. Auntie, when will you return to China?"
"Probably just for the next few days. What about you, Xiao Zhang?"
"I'm about the same. I'll go back in two or three days."
"You must come when the time comes. You are Sissi's classmates, so you have to come."
"Okay, okay, I will definitely come." Zhang Yuanjun agreed with a smile.
After seeing off the mother and daughter, Zhang and Zhao went back.
In Hollywood, countless studios are registered and countless studios are canceled every day.
Zhang Yuanjun found an agency, paid some money, and quickly registered the studio.
It's just an empty shell, but it's not surprising that this kind of thing happens a lot in Hollywood.
After registering for the studio, it was almost time for the two of them to finish their trip to the United States.
"You really don't want to go back?" Zhang Yuanjun asked his elder brother again before leaving.
"I really can't go back. I've already called my parents and told them." Zhang Leping said bitterly. His parents were having a 50th birthday party, and as the eldest son, he couldn't be with them. He felt very guilty.
"Okay, I'm leaving then."
"Let's go."
Zhang and Zhao landed in Beijing and went to the studio without jet lag.
"Come, come, come, everyone has a share," Zhang Yuanjun handed out gifts to the staff, "Don't say I'm a stingy boss, this is a genuine doll, bought from the Avenue of Stars."
"But it says made in China at the end."
Zhang Yuanjun: "That's genuine too! Do you want it if you like it? There's also a commemorative T-shirt, this is Avril Lavigne's album, as well as chocolates and keychains. You guys can share it."
Zhang Yuanjun endured the jet lag and listened to his work report during the half month since he left.
"You have been away for half a month, and you have a lot of work behind you."
"Help me push it for two more days. I'll do it as soon as I'm fine with the jet lag."
Zhang Yuanjun spent two days adjusting to the time difference, and another two days to attend five interviews, three covers, and two nearby commercial performances.
Zhang Yuanjun temporarily cleared his work and went back to school to see Teacher Tian's preparations.
"You went to the United States for vacation and left this mess to me." Tian Zhuangzhuang complained.
"It's not in vain that you are busy," he said, taking out a bottle of good wine, "I can't bear to give you good wine, Teacher Wang, so I am filial to you."
I spent a day with Teacher Tian and looked at the storyboards he drew. His art and photography skills are really beyond the comparison of ordinary directors.
Teacher Tian did not conduct any particularly bold experiments in this film. It seems that he also wanted to complete a commercial film steadily.
The next day, as soon as Zhang Yuanjun arrived at the studio, he learned a huge news: Wang Jinghua left Huayi, shocking the entire entertainment industry.
Those who left soon after were Chen Daoming, Xia Yu, Hu Jun and others.
Wang Jinghua switched to Chengtian Entertainment, and the outside world generally looked down on Huayi, saying that Wang Jinghua "emptied Huayi."
As a result, Wang Zhongjun, who had always stayed behind the scenes, had to show up and declare: "It would be more like if I left. If Huayi loses, anyone can do it!"
The words of the outside world are indeed exaggerated. It is true that Wang Jinghua has taken away many big names, but Huayi still has Li Bingbing and Fan Bingbing in its hands. Both of them are now in the top line.
However, the contract between the two and Huayi expires in one year, and the outside world is waiting to see the excitement.
On the third day after the incident, Zhang Yuanjun received a call from Wang Zhonglei, asking him to have dinner in the banquet hall of the Huayi headquarters building in the evening: "Please be sure to come and discuss anything." Wang Zhonglei was very polite.
Zhang Yuanjun didn't know what kind of medicine he was selling, and the other party already knew that he didn't sign the company.
So Zhang Yuanjun agreed to go to the banquet in the evening to see what the other party's plan was.
(End of chapter)
